Agency Administration

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is a seven-member volunteer citizen commission that provides policy direction for the agency. The commission hires an agency director, who in turn hires executive leaders to guide the agency. The members are as follows:

Agency Director - Don Hoch

Assistant Director, Operations - Mike Sternback

Assistant Director, Parks Development - Peter Herzog

Finance, Technology and Business Services Director - Shelly Hagen

Human Resources Director - Becky Daniels

Communications Director - Virginia Painter

Policy and Government Affairs Director - Daniel Farber

Executive Assistant to the Director and Commission - Becki Ellison

Region Managers
Region managers oversee state park areas and park managers and report to the assistant director of park operations.

Thomas Ernsberger (Eastern)

Scott Griffith (Eastern)

Eric Watilo (Northwest)

Shawn Tobin (Northwest)

Ryan Layton (Southwest)

Edward Girard (Southwest)

Service Units
Development, operations, and public service are administered through the following service units:

Three region offices and Fort Worden State Park and Conference Center - managing operations of parks and recreation areas, including partnerships. The three region offices are the Eastern Region headquartered in Wenatchee, the Northwest Region in Burlington, and the Southwest Region in Olympia.

Park Planning and Development Service Center - acquiring, planning, and building parks, partnerships, and stewardship of natural, cultural, and historical resources, including interpretive services, historic preservation, and environmental review.

Human Resources Office - recruiting, hiring, training of staff, workforce diversity, and employee safety. The agency provides excellent parks and services with the work of approximately 392 full-time, permanent employees, 400 seasonal employees, and approximately 1,000 volunteers who contribute more than 280,000 hours a year. In addition, approximately 270 partner groups help sustain the park system. The volunteer aid provided the agency is equivalent to approximately 138 full-time staff.